Saturday morning Jareth decided to visit The Strand. He was genuinely interested in purchasing a few books, but his hope lie in wanting to see Sarah. It didn't take long to find her in the rare books section. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, and she hardly wore any makeup. He couldn't recall a time she was ever more beautiful. As she flipped through the pages of the tome, she read a few of the lines to herself, lost in the book in front of her. He decided to dress down, it was the weekend after all, so jeans and sweater it was.

"Sarah Williams?" Jareth asked.

Sarah turned around and saw Seth Carrington in front of her.

"Mr. Carrington." Her face was somewhat blank. "Funny, I've never seen you here before."

"I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by. A colleague of mine recommended this store to me. He said it's the best place in town for used books."

"You're colleague's right, but I'm a little biased."

Now she smiled before continuing.

"Anything in particular you're looking for? I'm here often, so I practically know the store like the back of my hand."

"Not really. I'm just enjoying getting lost amongst all of these books."

"It's too easy to do that. I worked here part time one summer just for the employee discount."

Jareth smiled at the thought that she felt comfortable enough to admit that to him.

"What's caught your attention?" Jareth referred to the book in her hand.

"Oh, this? It's a collection of poems by Tennyson. Do you enjoy his work?"

"I'm afraid I'm not familiar."

Sarah was shocked with his admission.

"No offense Mr. Carrington, but it seems like you should be familiar with the name. He was the poet laureate of your home country."

Jareth made a note to look up the term "laureate" once returning to his hotel.

"I'll admit that poetry was never something I really read growing up, but I am intrigued by what had you so engrossed? Would you read it to me?" Jareth knew he was being forward, but some things could not be helped. He tried to give her his friendliest smile as he waited for her, but still, she was a bit hesitant.

He could hear her take in a breath before she directed her eyes to the words in front of her.

"Come, my friends/'T is not too late to seek a newer world/Push off, and sitting well in order smite/The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds/To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths/Of all the western stars, until I die." Sarah closed the book before continuing, "That was always my favorite part."

Her voice was pure and fluid.

"It's beautiful." Jareth wasn't just referring to the poem.

She didn't notice him looking at her as she shelved the book of poetry. She also didn't notice him pick up the book as she began walking to another aisle. If this Tennyson guy was special to her, then he was special to him too. Jareth followed her as she continued to walk.

"Was your audition a success?" Jareth asked.

"Unfortunately, no. My lack of years showed a bit, but they rejected me in the kindest way possible. I did score free tickets to their performance of Elgar's Cello Concerto."

"A consolation prize?" Jareth said, disappointed.

"I don't look at it like that. You've got to lose sometimes. It's one of the most important lessons a person can ever learn; it humbles you and makes you understand that nothing should ever be taken for granted." Sarah said, wondering around aimlessly, not noticing that her new acquaintance was following her like a lost puppy dog.

Jareth wondered if that was a unconscious dig at his loss to her all those years ago, but he knew she was being genuine.

"You have a very mature way of dealing with that sort of thing."

"Yeah, well, life's not always fair. And to be honest, I heard the audition of the woman they awarded the chair to - she truly did deserve it."

Jareth could tell she didn't care to talk about her audition anymore.

"Any fictions authors you can recommend? You seem like the type who would be fond of a fairy tale or two." Jareth said, noting that they were in that section.

Sarah stopped and turned to her companion. There was a somber look on her face as she traced her fingers along the spines of the books on the side of her.

"I'm not too fond of fiction. I try to avoid it to be frank. Such stories have always gotten me in trouble."

"How so?" Jareth asked.

"Overactive imaginations can easily blur lines."

That was it. That was all she intended to reveal to him.

After another thirty minutes of walking around the store and chatting about books and his "career" in corporate law, Jareth lined up in the cashier's line with three books in tow. He had a mix of genres, but the Tennyson collection was what he planned on reading first.

He didn't want their time to end. It was too early for lunch, but too late for breakfast. He tried to think of something even as he paid for his books. Hoping that she didn't want to end their time together, Jareth mentally scrambled for suggestions as he paid the cashier.

"Would you like to grab a coffee at The Bean?" Sarah asked.

Jareth didn't realize he sighed in relief.

"It's okay if you don't want to go. I just thought…"

"I'd love to." Jareth said, trying to hide his enthusiasm. He was relieved and happy that she took some sort of initiative. It meant she was opening herself up to him. Things were slowly beginning to fall into place.

There was an uncomfortable silence as Sarah led the way towards The Bean. A part of Jareth wondered what it would be like if the two were lovers walking side by side. He didn't realize she asked him a question until she said,

"You alright?"

"I'm sorry."

"We're here." Sarah said as she nodded towards the entrance of The Bean.

Jareth thought it interesting that Sarah insisted on paying for their coffees because she was the one who invited him. He was responsible, according to her, for finding a table. Jareth felt odd, but brushed it off to humans and their unspoken rules.

"How long are you in town for?"

Jareth didn't know how to answer the question, so he tried to be as truthful as possible without seeming too obtuse.

"Until my work here is done. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm not the one who necessarily calls the shots."

It was the truth, slightly.

"You don't seem to enjoy it if you don't mind me saying." Sarah said.

"Back home I have more sway. I rule the kingdom, if you will."

"Have you had a chance to see the city?"

"I'm afraid not. Work has hindered any real chance of getting to see the city."

"So no Statue of Liberty? No Empire State Building? No Times Square?"

"I got to see your favorite bookstore." Jareth admitted with a little bit of mirth. "I must admit, I have no real interest in Times Square. It's a small spot of organized chaos, and that's not an environment I care to be around. Besides, Londoners have their own version back home."

"That's so sad. You seem rather jaded."

Jareth didn't expect her to be so on point, but it only intrigued him more. Looking towards the window and seeing the common people walking to their next destination was a brief distraction.

"I sometimes feel numb. I think that's why I jumped at the chance to come here. I craved something different and exciting."

"Yet you haven't found it?"

"I'm getting there." Jareth said, looking at her, knowing that she didn't understand that he was referring to her. "Have you always lived here?" It was time to turn the conversation back towards her.

"I'm from New York, but I've only lived here for about five or six years. I came here for my career."

"What about before then? Any family?"

"My parents got divorced when I was kid, but my father remarried and I have a younger stepbrother. He's awesome."

"Teenager?" Jareth already knew the answer.

"Oh no, he's still in elementary school."

"Get along well?" Jareth asked, not understanding the concept of elementary school.

"He's a trip." Sarah said, smiling. "I never enjoyed babysitting him, but he's a bright light in my life."

"Don't you get along with your parents?"

"Oh, no, I do. It's just that I was a brat when I was teenager. I felt entitled and I was so unwilling to open my self up to certain people. I would never relive those years again if given the chance." Sarah said as she smiled down at the table.

Jareth found her honesty endearing. He understood her flaws back then, but figured they were growing pains. Her acknowledgement of such things filled him a soft warmth. It was hard to feel angry in that moment.

"Have you been to The Met? You seem like the type who would appreciate fine works of art." Sarah asked.

It felt as if she was trying to turn the conversation in any direction but hers.

"I've walked in front of it when I was exploring Central Park. Honestly, I was lost in Central Park." Jareth said, laughing, hoping to relax his companion. He was proud of the fact that his laugh was jovial and inviting. He was afraid that it would come off as fake, but she didn't seem to think it was.

"It's about thirty minutes away from here. Normally, I never do this kind of thing, but I think you should come with me to The Met."

"Are you asking me out?" Jareth said, jokingly.

"NO! I just,"

Sarah could tell her new friend was joking with her.

"Now I'm beginning to think I'm not a very attractive person with you being so quick to answer that question."

Jareth noticed her begin to retreat within herself. He wanted to apologize, but she looked at him and spoke.

"Truth be told, I really don't have a lot of friends. I know a lot of people, but I've always been good at keeping them at a safe distance. It's given people a certain impression about me being cold and aloof and I don't blame them for thinking those things. Please understand, I wasn't always like this. I used to be…" She stopped herself, and for a moment Jareth thought she would get up and leave. "Someone recently told me that I have to be willing to open myself up to new experiences and new people."

Asshole Jareth would throw out a line about how he was nothing more than an experiment to her, but he could see how difficult it was for her to admit such things to him. Her eyes were starting to glass over, and he wanted nothing more than to pull her to him and smother away her fears and insecurities.

The Sarah he knew was nothing like the Sarah he saw in front of him. She was someone who appeared to question every decision she made, every word she spoke, every turn she took, and the self-confidence he saw years ago was no longer there. He hated fragility and weakness, but hers broke his heart.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'd like to be your friend Seth Carrington."

"I'd like to be your friend too Sarah Williams."

Until that moment, Jareth had never been more honest in his entire life.

Four hours later they were strolling through the Islamic Art collection. The time was spent discussing the various pieces of art Sarah introduced Jareth to. For the first time, he forgot about his personal mission. He felt like he was being let in on a secret side with Sarah that she wasn't so willing share with the world. It was impossible not to cherish the moments where she was letting him in to her world. He observed how her hands moved when she described the works in front of them. He focused on the digits, wanting nothing more than to caress them with his own. She was the symphony conductor in the building filled with classic works of art.

By the time they moved to another part of the museum and stood in front of Jan van Eyck's "The Crucifixion; The Last Judgement," there was more silence than words. They both observed the painting, noting the intricate details and colors. Jareth leaned his head to the left, not noticing that Sarah slightly leaned her head to the right. Anyone in the museum would think they were companions, but the two found a way to shut out the rest of the world around them.

The silence was something Jareth had become so accustomed to that he was slightly thrown off guard when Sarah posed the question,

"Forgive me if I'm being too forward or presumptuous, but would you maybe like to see the Elgar concerto with me?"

She continued to stare at the van Eyck painting. It was as if she couldn't look him in the eye, and the pause between her question and his answer only amplified her doubt.

"It's all right if you don't. It was stupid of me to ask. You probably have a girlfriend back home in England." There she was, questioning her every move. "I just thought I'd offer you my extra ticket. Just forget I asked."

Jareth knew it wasn't a "date"; it was an offering, an olive branch. Still, she refused to look at him. Turning towards her, Jareth gently grabbed her shoulders and turned her towards him. He wanted to cup her face in his hands, but he knew that would be too much too soon.

"I would love to accompany you to see the group that turned down such a talented musician as yourself." He smiled in return when he saw her eyes meet his.

Sarah began to blush before she redirected her attention to the painting. Jareth knew it was time to remove his hands.

"When shall I mark my calendar?" Jareth asked.

"In about two weeks. It's on a Saturday night."

"Consider my evening booked."

The two moved on to the next painting, not once bringing up their future plans. It was only when they were walking out of the museum that Jareth added,

"I don't have one, you know."

"Have what?"

"A girlfriend." Jareth said.